Seminar looks at ‘roadside treasures’

On Saturday, the San Antonio Conservation Society will be hosting a day-long seminar titled “Roadside Treasures — Buildings of the Automotive Era,” a look at the classic architecture of local gas stations, drive-in restaurants and motels.

The seminar also looks at the preservation process for these roadside structures.

The Conservation Society is in the process of updating its own list of historic gas stations (last updated in 1984) after a couple of multi-use developments gobbled them up.

Last year, the nonprofit group lost a battle to save the Grayburg Oil Station No. 12, 1002 S. Flores St., to a mixed-use development called The Viceroy.

“Grayburg was a local oil company,” Conservation Society president Nancy Avellar said. “This was one of the few remaining companies. Unfortunately, because it was not on the survey and not designated historic, it was lost.”

And Luther’s Cafe, formerly at 1425 N. Main Ave., is a former gas station that’s being converted into student housing for San Antonio College by the NRP Group. But the developer has agreed to donate $1,000 to the Conservation Society’s efforts of updating its survey.

Luther’s Cafe is setting up shop temporarily across the street before a permanent home can be found, according to its Facebook page.

The registration deadline for the seminar is Wednesday. It’s scheduled for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel, 110 Lexingston Ave. Cost is $20, $10 for students. For more information, call Stuart Johnson at (210) 224-6163 or sjohnson@saconservation.org.